Metal separating apparatus



Dec. 5, 1967 F. E. KUTINA 3,356,356

METAL SEPARATIN I APPARATUS Filed Oct. 17, 1963 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIE 2 INVENTOR.

FEM 05f Form/4 tQM Dec. 5, 1967 F, KUTlNA 3,356,356

METAL SEPARATING APPARATUS Filed Oct. 17, 1963 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 I N VE N TOR.

FPA/VC/f E. Kan/v4 EM/1 4M 47' TOP/V51 Dec. 5, 1967 F E T N 3,356,356

METAL SEPARATING APPARATUS Filed Oct. 17, 1963 5 Sheets-Sheet :5

INVENTOR.

Few/mu Farm 4 I a; AQM A/AZM A TTOP/VEP F. E. KUTINA Dec. 5, 1967 METAL SEPARATING APPARATUS 5 Sheets-Sheet 4.

Filed Oct. 17, 196* METAL SBPARATING APPARATUS Filed Oct. 17, 1963 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 g INVENTOR.

1 E 1 440 5 Kan/v4 24 2% 2 LL (1) E IQQM/ A 7 TOP/HEP 3,356,356 METAL SEPARATING APPARATUS Francis E. Katina, 1818 1st Ave, SE, Rochester, Minn. 559M Filed Get. 17, 1963, Ser. No. 316,961 3 Claims. (Cl. 266-33) This invention relates broadly to a metal separating apparatus and more particularly to an apparatus used for separating unlike metals in scrap materials the one from another by means of a direct flame which produces an intense heat concentrated in a firebox. This firebox is fired by any of a variety of liquid fuels fed into its burners under high pressure. Essentially, the device comprises three main parts; a high pressure blower system; a high pressure fuel system; and a suitable firebox, as will presently appear in detail.

Some of the objects .andadvantages of the invention are as follows:

Extremely low cost of operation due to the wide variety of fuels which can be used in this apparatus, such as drain oil, cleaning fluid, paint thinner, solvents, etc. In other words, any combustible liquid. A typical instance might be automobile drain oil which is obtainable for approximately two cents per gallon. During normal operation the system consumes approximately fifteen gallons of fuel per hour, so it can be readily seen that a days supply of fuel would be quite inexpensive. The fuel need only he basically strained; that is, through approximately a milk strainer mesh size filter, and the only additional treatment needed is therefore, for the thinner fuels to be mixed with other fluids in order to bring the same up to a viscosity of approximately #20 SAE engine oil which has been found to be the best consistency for this apparatus. The nozzle screens in the system should be changed after approximately forty hours of operation; the filter less often. These costs are minimal, however, and taking everything else into consideration, it will easily be seen that the cost of operation is slight.

A further object of the invention is the adaptability of the device as to size and relatively low cost of manufacture, said device being built of readily available standard parts and capable of being built to accommodate any size of scrap materials. The machine as shown in the accompanying drawings is shown to be portable, however, it will be understood that the machine can be permanently mounted and made of a size to accept large items such as whole sections of aircraft bodies, in which case a different drive means can be used as will presently appear.

A still further object of the invention is the ability of the device to accept items which are made up of various pieces of scrap materials, each of which may be made of a different metal and to separate these metals from one another by the use of high temperatures.

Common practice at this time is to dismantle scrap articles by hand and then to laboriously sort the different metal pieces into different piles, after which each pile is sold to larger scrap salvage companies to be melted down separately. An example might be an aluminum engine cylinder from an aircraft engine. This would have, besides the main body of aluminum, steel barrel studs and brass valve guides. With the method most commonly used today, the valve guides would each have to be punched out separately, then each of the studs would have to be pulled. The studs would then be piled with other steel articles, the valve guides with other brass articles and the aluminum in a separate pile of aluminum articles. After these time consuming, laborious processes are completed, each pile can then be labeled, melted down and ingotted.

In the invention herein described, the entire cylinder assembly would be placed in the firebox in direct contact United States Patent with the high temperature flame, which for the sake of easy explanation, we will call 2000 degrees F., however, it should be understood that the device will operate efliciently at lower temperatures, and also much higher temeratures. At a little over 1200 degrees F. the aluminum will melt, and, due to the shape of the firebox floor, will begin immediately to flow into an ingot mold. At this point another important feature becomes apparent and that is by flowing the molten metal off immediately as it reaches its melting point, the metal never approaches its boiling point, thus little oxidation takes place and almost no slag is formed, thereby making an ingot of the highest purity. At this point the steel studs and brass valve guides would be raked out of the firebox through a rakeout door as their melting points are higher than the term perature being maintained in the firebox to melt away the aluminum cylinder head.

A still further object of this invention is its complete lack of smoke while in normal operation. Due to the high temperatures and fuel pressures involved in normal operation, a near perfect combustion is achieved and all the products of combustion are consumed. In a sense, the device burns its own smoke, thereby eliminating an objection found in most other operations of this type.

Another object of the herein described apparatus is the fact that only a very short warm-up period is needed. Ten minutes afterignition, the device can be flowing aluminum or some other non-ferrous metals. The reasons for this are: Use of intense heat created by high pressure fuel air mixture, and placement of an article or articles to be reduced, into direct contact with the flame.

A further important object of the invention is the substantial saving in labor over all present methods of metal separation. In other methods several men are required to dismantle and sort the materials before actual melting down can commence. When the apparatus of the present invention is used, one man can produce at least 500 pounds of ingots per hour, depending upon material and heat being used.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following specification and claims when taken in conjunction with the appended drawings which form a part of this application, and in which drawings like characters indicate like parts throughout the several views.

To the above end, generally stated, the invention presented herein, illustrates a portable form of the device and comprises the following devices and combination of devices hereinafter described and defined in the claims.

Referring to the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of said apparatus.

7 FIG. 2 is a right side elevational view thereof.

FIG. 3 is a left side elevational view thereof.

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the invention.

FIG. 5 is a rear elevational View, in part, broken away to reveal the floor shape of the firebox, and the placement of the burner nozzles in relation to said floor.

FIG. 6 is a partial perspective view showing more detail on the floor shape including the flow off spout, and the ingot pen tracks and drive systems.

FIG. 7 is a section taken along lines 7-7 of FIG, 4 and sufficiently enlarged to show details of construction.

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary view partially broken away in order to show the details of the blower pipe coupling.

FIG. 9 is a perspective, diagrammatic View of the blower system, including some elements of the fuel system.

The metal separating apparatus constituting the present invention is generally designated as 15, and includes the following elements: A firebox F, into which the scrap is fed by means of preheater chute 45 which is mounted into the firebox F, through a door 48. The preheater chute 1X 45 is angled upwardly from the door 48 and is fitted at its upper end portion with a heat retaining closure member 46 that is slidable between frame members 45a and is operated by means of a pivoted hand lever 47. A high pressure blower B which is driven by drive member 18, which, while shown to be an internal combustion engine, may be any one of a number of power sources. The blower system is integrated with a high pressure fuel system, generally designated by the reference character S and is shown diagrammatically in FIG. 10, this construction will produce and maintain a high temperature flame in the firebox F. The air and fuel under high pressure are conducted into the firebox F through a series of ducts and pipes which are numbered and will presently appear in more detailed form.

In order to more fully understand the invention, the following is a description of a typical separating operation:

Drive means 13 is started, which through suitable transmission means, such as belt 2% and pulley Ztla, starts blower B, which in turn starts fuel pump 85 which is driven from main blower shaft 26 by means of gear set 85a. Fuel is pumped by pump 35, which is fitted with relief valve 86, from supply tank 80, through filter 82 by means of line 81, thence through lines 83 and 84 to the fuel control console 89. Line 34 is fitted with a pressure gauge 87 which connects into the system through line 38.

When the pressure gauge 87 indicates 250 p.s.i. line pressure, the first burner 26, is ready for ignition and the operator opens a fuel valve 89a which is connected to the first burner, said fuel valve being located in the fuel valve console 89. At this point the air control damper 37, also connected to first burner, which is located in burner conduit 25, must be opened substantially to one-tenth full open position in order to obtain the proper fuel-air mixture needed for ignition. To accomplish this, the control handle 42 for the first burner is moved, which, by means of control rod 41, crossover element to, connecting rod 39, and damper pivot arm 33, opens damper 37 to the desired setting. The air leaves the blower B, through blower outlets Zll, thence into manifold chambers 22, and by means of blower conduits 23 and crossover pipe 24 is made to enter the removable burner unit 26, for the first burner, by way of burner conduit 25', for the reason that the air damper valve 37, for the said first burner is the only open passage. The fuel is pumped into the combustion chamber 33 through flexible line 34, fuel inlet pipe 30, and finally through removable nozzle 28 which is a standard furnace jet, fitted with a replaceable screen 29. The air enters the combustion chamber 33 after coming through the opening made by the damper 37 and through the stabilizer unit 31, and is directed by air cone 27, both of which are standard oil burner units. The dotted shape indicated by numeral 32 is the flame cone of the burner. Ignition is initially manually accomplished by means of a torch or any other method preferred by the operator and is considered to be a safety feature as the operator must be present to observe any malfunctions and failure to ignite. The reason for igniting only one burner at a time, is that all other burners can use the first of said burners as a pilot after it has warmed up for about thirty seconds. To ignite the burner, the operator aims his torch into the open combustion chamber area 33 of the burner being ignited. The torch is inserted into the firebox F, through the rake-out door 73, which is slidably mounted on rails 74 for easy opening. When all the burners have been in operation for a warm-up period of about five minutes the air and fuel valves are trimmed or adjusted to a point where any smoke that has been generated, disappears. At this point the separator is ready to accept its first load of scrap material.

The blower end of burner 26, is cut diagonally at 26a, to match with diagonal cut 25a of burner conduit 25, both of which are wrapped together with removable sleeve 35, and secured with strap element 36, as shown best in FIG. 8. This construction permits easy disassembly for servicing of the burner and all its various components.

The closure member 46, which is slidably mounted between support members 45a of preheater chute 4-5, is opened by means of pivoted lever 47. The scrap is then loaded into chute 45 whose closure member 46 is then lowered. Because of the upward angle of the chute 45 and the fact that the door 46 is closed, affords means whereby it is possible to trap a large amount of the heat rising from the firebox F. This heat serves to preheat all the material which is being fed into the machine, and speeds up the operation considerably. After the preheating is accomplished, the scrap items are pushed down into the melting area of the firebox by the operator, through the chute 45. After the first loading of the machine the operation becomes continuous with each new load pushing the previous loads further into the firebox. About ten minutes after the first charging, the separator will flow aluminum.

Firebox F is jacketed by steel plates 75, which are held together by framing members 76 and is lined with a suitable refractory material 6412, such as firebrick. The burners 26 enter the wall 64 of the firebox F through ports 64a at a point approximately six inches above the arcuate portion 66 of the firebox floor 65. The scrap material feeding out of chute 45 enters the firebox F through opening 63 ending up directly in front of burners 26 so that the cones of flame 32 play directly on the material to be separated. The arcuate portion 66 of floor 65 is angled slightly from edge 66a, back to edge 66b so that immediately when the metal begins to flow, it will run back into the inclined flow spout or a trough 67 formed in the floor 65, thence down the spout 67, out over spout lip 68 and into the ingot pan 6b. The floor 65 is also formed with a level portion 69 along the rear edge thereof which is used only as a storage area for articles whose melting point has not been reached. These may be raked out at this time, if desired, through the rake-out door or access '73. The firebox F is also equipped with a breather vent 71, fitted with a door 72. Vent 71 can also be used in some instances as a firebox loading door.

Running beneath the firebox F, are a pair of roller tracks 52' and 62 designed to facilitate the easy movement of the ingot pans 66. The one track is used for the pans being fed into the pouring area, while the other track 52 is a return track for the empty pans. The feedin track is hand powered by means of handwheel 59, sprocket 58 and primary drive chain 57, from the preheater side of the machine so that the operator can accurately spot the ingot pan 60, under the lip 68 of pouring spout 67. A chain 57 drives sprocket 56, which in turn through shaft 55 and sprocket 54-, drives ingot pan drive chain 52. Chain 52 is fitted with cleats 53 which engage the rear end portion of ingot pan 60, in order to provide a positive means of movement for ingot pans 60. The pan is loaded onto the loading portion 49 of the feed-in track and is advanced through means of aforementioned drive system, through opening 70, beneath firebox F, and onto the firebox portion 50 of the roller track. This puts the ingot pan 6% directly beneath the lip 68 of spout 67. When the pan is filled, the operator turns handwheel 59 in order to move the pan to the cooling and dumping area 51 of the roller track. After the ingot has cooled sufiiciently, it is dumped; then the empty pan 60 is placed on the upwardly angled portion 61 of the return track 52 and gravity then causes the pan to return through opening 7t) to the downwardly angled storage portion 62, of the return track 62' in preparation for its re-use.

While there are herein disclosed but a limited number of embodiments of the structure, process, and product of the invention herein presented, it is possible to produce still other embodiments without departing from the inventive concept herein disclosed, and it is desired,

therefore, that only such limitations be imposed on the appended claims as are stated herein or required by the prior art.

What I claim is:

1. Apparatus for separating unlike metals in scrap metal materials, and reducing the same to ingots comprising in combination, an enclosed firebox having a feed opening and an inclined tubular pre-heater chute detachably connected to the firebox in communication with the feed opening whereby said scrap materials to be reduced, are fed to the said firebox, means for closing the preheater chute to atmosphere thereby pre-heating the materials enroute to the said firebox and means for selectively opening and closing the pre-heater chute, a driven air pressure blower directing air into the firebox and a high pressure fuel system integrated with the said pressure blower and a system of burners whereby said firebox is fired to produce and maintain a high temperature flame in said firebox, the bottom of the firebox having an inclined trough in which the molten metal will accumulate and be immediately discharged, the trough having an open and unobstructed discharge end from which molten metal is continuously poured, means associated with said firebox whereby ingot pans are transported into and out of register with a pouring area below the discharge end of said trough, and the firebox having an access door in one side to permit removal of un'melted scrap metal.

2. The apparatus for separating unlike metals according to claim 1, said pre-heater chute being mounted at its inner end portion in the firebox adjacent said system of burners whereby said scrap materials to be reduced, are fed to the firebox into the path of the flame from the said system of burners discharging flame into the firebox.

3. The apparatus for separating unlike metals according to claim 1, wherein the bottom of the firebox being slightly inclined rearwardly to a junction with one side portion of the trough having communication with atmosphere whereby molten metal is channeled into the said ingot pans.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 805,835 11/1905 Baggaley 22-62 2,393,467 1/ 1946 Hanak 26637 X 2,446,511 8/1948 Kerry et al 26633 X 2,703,230 3/1955 Mansbach 26637 2,734,244 2/ 1956 Herres 22214 2,756,044 7/ 1956 Neumann 266--33 WILLIAM J. STEPHENSON, Primary Examiner. I. SPENSER OV-ERHOLSER, Examiner. V. K. RISING, Assistant Examiner. 

1. APPARATUS FOR SEPARATING UNLIKE METALS IN SCRAP METAL MATERIALS, AND REDUCING THE SAME TO INGOTS COMPRISING IN COMBINATION, AN ENCLOSED FIREBOX HAVING A FEED OPENING AND AN INCLINED TUBULAR PRE-HEATER CHUTE DETACHABLY CONNECTED TO THE FIREBOX IN COMMUNICATION WITH THE FEED OPENING WHEREBY SAID SCRAP MATERIALS TO BE REDUCED, ARE FED TO THE SAID FIREBOX, MEANS FOR CLOSING THE PREHEATER CHUTE TO ATMOSPHERE THEREBY PRE-HEATING THE MATERIALS ENROUTE TO THE SAID FIREBOX AND MEANS FOR SELECTIVELY OPENING AND CLOSING THE PRE-HEATER CHUTE, A DRIVEN AIR PRESSURE BLOWER DIRECTING AIR INTO THE FIREBOX AND A HIGH PRESSURE FUEL SYSTEM INTEGRATED WITH THE SAID PRESSURE BLOWER AND A SYSTEM OF BURNERS WHEREBY SAID FIREBOX 